Best Public Schools in Panama City, FL

Summary:

The city of Panama City, Florida is home to 36 schools that serve students from elementary through high school, including 15 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 10 high schools, and 7 alternative schools. These schools are part of the Bay District and are rated 3 out of 5 stars on average by SchoolDigger.

A few schools stand out in the data, including North Bay Haven Career Academy, a public charter high school that ranks 77th out of 844 Florida high schools and is rated 5 out of 5 stars. It has exceptional test scores, with 97% proficiency in Algebra 1, 93% in Geometry, 94% in Biology 1, and 95% in US History. Another high-performing school is University Academy Sabl Inc, a public charter elementary/middle school that ranks 41st out of 2,258 Florida elementary schools and is also rated 5 out of 5 stars. In contrast, some schools like Rosenwald High School and Cedar Grove Elementary struggle with lower test scores.

The district as a whole faces some challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 31.4% and significant variation in per-student spending, ranging from $6,220 at Bay Virtual Instruction Program to $50,098 at St. Andrew School At Oakland Terrace. Addressing these disparities and ensuring all students in Bay District have access to a high-quality education should be a priority.

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				FAST English Language Arts (2025)								FAST Math (2025)						Statewide Science Science (2025)		EOC Algebra 1 (2025)	EOC Geometry (2025)	EOC Biology 1 (2025)	EOC US History (2025)	EOC Civics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 3rd Grade	FAST English Language Arts 4th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 5th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 3rd Grade	FAST Math 4th Grade	FAST Math 5th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 5th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bay High School	Public	9-12	1200 Harrison Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4600	1,289	65	19.8	44.2%	562 (43.6%)	343 (26.6%)	244 (18.9%)	24 (1.9%)	7 (0.5%)	3 (0.2%)	106 (8.2%)	40.5	459^th of 844 public high schools	45.6%		46	352^nd of 807 public high schools	56.4%	107							53.0	52.0									29.0	42.0	71.0	70.0		$9,050	$813	$8,237
Cedar Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2826 E 15th St	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4550	495	34	14.5	74.7%	156 (31.5%)	163 (32.9%)	90 (18.2%)	6 (1.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	76 (15.4%)	10.7	2134^th of 2258 public elementary schools	5.5%		4.9	2222^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	1.5%	88	20.0	42.0	36.0						27.0	45.0	26.0				32.0							$16,425	$2,509	$13,916
Callaway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7115 E Highway 22	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1241	622	31	20.0	67.2%	274 (44.1%)	140 (22.5%)	115 (18.5%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (14.1%)	43	1275^th of 2258 public elementary schools	43.5%		57.4	912^th of 2256 public elementary schools	59.6%	363	49.0	60.0	45.0						57.0	59.0	56.0				47.0							$11,187	$1,280	$9,908
Merriam Cherry Street Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1125 Cherry St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1480	343	27	12.7	64.1%	137 (39.9%)	126 (36.7%)	46 (13.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (9.0%)	34.7	1508^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.2%		27.2	1706^th of 2256 public elementary schools	24.4%	198	54.0	41.0	48.0						58.0	54.0	40.0				49.0							$14,360	$1,498	$12,862
Lucille Moore Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1900 Michigan Ave	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1428	543	37	14.6	67.8%	142 (26.2%)	158 (29.1%)	192 (35.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (8.7%)	22.7	1830^th of 2258 public elementary schools	19.0%		41.7	1299^th of 2256 public elementary schools	42.4%	531	28.0	54.0	31.0						35.0	62.0	41.0				43.0							$12,885	$1,711	$11,174
Hiland Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2507 E Baldwin Rd	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4685	684	40	17.1	52.2%	340 (49.7%)	117 (17.1%)	145 (21.2%)	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	70 (10.2%)	21.5	1858^th of 2258 public elementary schools	17.7%		29.3	1641^st of 2256 public elementary schools	27.3%	217	31.0	54.0	39.0						40.0	49.0	33.0				40.0							$11,663	$1,679	$9,984
Jinks Middle School	Public	6-8	600 W 11th St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4695	541	30	18.0	59.5%	165 (30.5%)	195 (36.0%)	138 (25.5%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	36 (6.7%)	19.3	1017^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.6%		17.8	1027^th of 1196 public middle schools	14.1%	10				51.0	36.0	30.0						31.0	29.0	35.0		28.0	64.0	65.0			48.0	$10,771	$1,195	$9,576
Parker Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	640 S Highway 22 A	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4570	510	31	16.4	70.6%	164 (32.2%)	175 (34.3%)	111 (21.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (11.4%)	26.3	1748^th of 2258 public elementary schools	22.6%		28.3	1675^th of 2256 public elementary schools	25.8%	73	32.0	47.0	47.0						41.0	56.0	33.0				54.0							$11,939	$1,423	$10,516
St. Andrew School At Oakland Terrace	Public	PK, KG-5	2010 W 12th St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4595	55	12	4.5	74.5%	22 (40.0%)	20 (36.4%)	2 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (18.2%)	1.4	2245^th of 2258 public elementary schools	0.6%		0.5	2254^th of 2256 public elementary schools	0.1%	9	21.0	15.0	7.0						21.0	8.0	21.0				7.0							$50,135	$6,694	$43,440
Tommy Smith Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5044 Tommy Smith Dr	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1688	677	41	16.5	45.3%	475 (70.2%)	53 (7.8%)	73 (10.8%)	12 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (9.5%)	25.1	1780^th of 2258 public elementary schools	21.2%		30.1	1620^th of 2256 public elementary schools	28.2%	160	41.0	43.0	48.0						46.0	40.0	32.0				52.0							$10,453	$1,204	$9,249
Rutherford High School	Public	6-12	1000 School Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4500	1,394	80	17.4	57.7%	467 (33.5%)	447 (32.1%)	304 (21.8%)	24 (1.7%)	3 (0.2%)	7 (0.5%)	142 (10.2%)	23	648^th of 844 public high schools	23.2%		22.9	616^th of 807 public high schools	23.7%	32				45.0	23.0	31.0	41.0	31.0				34.0	21.0	35.0		33.0	40.0	28.0	59.0	62.0	40.0	$10,918	$1,091	$9,828
Northside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2001 Northside Dr	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1506	569	36	15.8	51.1%	285 (50.1%)	99 (17.4%)	114 (20.0%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	59 (10.4%)	34.8	1500^th of 2258 public elementary schools	33.6%		35.7	1468^th of 2256 public elementary schools	34.9%	32	52.0	53.0	38.0						58.0	64.0	39.0				43.0							$11,170	$1,188	$9,983
Exceptional Student Education	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 872-4100	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Margaret K. Lewis In Millville	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	203 N East Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1792	170	28	6.0	51.8%	106 (62.4%)	31 (18.2%)	17 (10.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (8.2%)								(n/a)																						$42,176	$6,965	$35,211
Merritt Brown Middle School	Public	6-8	5044 Merritt Brown Way	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-3976	634	37	17.1	51.1%	462 (72.9%)	57 (9.0%)	65 (10.3%)	7 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (6.5%)	31.6	866^th of 1205 public middle schools	28.1%		27.6	897^th of 1196 public middle schools	25.0%	31				47.0	52.0	44.0						45.0	38.0	34.0		40.0	77.0	94.0			67.0	$10,960	$899	$10,062
New Horizons Learning Center	Public	6-12	3200 Minnesota Ave	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-1110	93	17	5.4	79.6%	50 (53.8%)	32 (34.4%)	6 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.4%)	4.1	762^nd of 844 public high schools	9.7%		3.3	751^st of 807 public high schools	6.9%	11				7.0	15.0	14.0						13.0	10.0	14.0		7.0		25.0	10.0		29.0	$36,492	$4,648	$31,845
Bay Regional Juvenile Detention Center	Public, Alternative	K-12	450 E 11th St	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 872-4706	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Bay Haven Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	2501 Hawks Landing Blvd	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 248-3500	766	46	16.6	40.2%	485 (63.3%)	84 (11.0%)	105 (13.7%)	28 (3.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	60 (7.8%)	67	716^th of 2258 public elementary schools	68.3%		73	572^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	74.6%	144	73.0	56.0	54.0						87.0	69.0	69.0				52.0							$9,065	$3,683	$5,382
Deane Bozeman School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	13410 Highway 77	Panama City	32409	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 767-1300	1,690	84	20.1	37.2%	1,515 (89.6%)	17 (1.0%)	90 (5.3%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	62 (3.7%)								(n/a)	72.0	75.0	49.0	64.0	65.0	57.0	58.0	62.0	73.0	67.0	45.0	69.0	64.0	80.0	59.0	63.0	49.0	55.0	76.0	88.0	85.0	$9,050	$548	$8,500
Bay Haven Charter Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	2501 Hawks Landing Blvd	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 248-3500	429	22	19.5	35.7%	288 (67.1%)	33 (7.7%)	53 (12.4%)	15 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (9.1%)	83.9	160^th of 1205 public middle schools	86.7%		65.2	382^nd of 1196 public middle schools	68.1%	222				84.0	73.0	72.0						84.0	85.0	80.0		59.0	100.0	100.0			90.0	$7,248	$00	$7,248
Chautauqua Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	1118 Magnolia Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 785-5056	52	5	10.4	32.7%	33 (63.5%)	8 (15.4%)	9 (17.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.8%)								(n/a)
Palm Bay Preparatory Academy 6-12	Public, Charter	6-12	1104 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	Yes	(850) 215-0770	203	11	18.4	54.7%	86 (42.4%)	39 (19.2%)	60 (29.6%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (7.9%)	48.3	355^th of 844 public high schools	57.9%		44.7	369^th of 807 public high schools	54.3%	14				63.0	58.0	67.0	71.0	32.0				30.0	53.0	57.0		56.0	58.0		77.0	88.0	64.0	$11,366	$1,813	$9,554
Deer Point Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4800 Highway 2321	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	No	(850) 767-5462	735	46	15.9	43.8%	513 (69.8%)	70 (9.5%)	89 (12.1%)	7 (1.0%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	52 (7.1%)	37.9	1421^st of 2258 public elementary schools	37.1%		39.5	1355^th of 2256 public elementary schools	39.9%	66	57.0	55.0	37.0						58.0	63.0	37.0				40.0							$10,859	$1,558	$9,301
Rosenwald High School	Public	6-12	924 Bay Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	No	Yes	(850) 767-4580	351	27	13.0	62.1%	194 (55.3%)	90 (25.6%)	46 (13.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.1%)	2	808^th of 844 public high schools	4.3%		3.2	755^th of 807 public high schools	6.4%	53					10.0	9.0	16.0	0.0					10.0	5.0		5.0	9.0	2.0	12.0	15.0	15.0	$18,158	$1,852	$16,307
Bay Virtual Instruction Program	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	Yes	No	(850) 747-4460	2	0			0 (0.0%)	2 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
North Bay Haven Charter Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	1 Buccaneer Dr	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 248-0801	526	25	21.0	29.8%	348 (66.2%)	23 (4.4%)	65 (12.4%)	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	67 (12.7%)	81.3	193^rd of 1205 public middle schools	84.0%		87.1	123^rd of 1196 public middle schools	89.7%	70				77.0	67.0	66.0						86.0	77.0	95.0		63.0	99.0	100.0			86.0	$7,857	$00	$7,857
Bay Virtual Franchise	Public, Virtual, Alternative	3-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	Yes	No	(850) 767-4460	25	0		12.0%	21 (84.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																						$8,104	$24	$8,080
North Bay Haven Charter Academy Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	1 Buccaneer Dr	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 248-0205	696	39	18.0	29.9%	507 (72.8%)	29 (4.2%)	74 (10.6%)	11 (1.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	73 (10.5%)	83.7	319^th of 2258 public elementary schools	85.9%		82.2	349^th of 2256 public elementary schools	84.5%	30	75.0	68.0	69.0						86.0	86.0	78.0				63.0							$9,222	$00	$9,222
North Bay Haven Career Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	1 Buccaneer Dr	Panama City	32404	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 248-0801	865	38	22.7	28.3%	575 (66.5%)	57 (6.6%)	133 (15.4%)	36 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	60 (6.9%)	79.7	77^th of 844 public high schools	90.9%		83.6	53^rd of 807 public high schools	93.4%	24							64.0	72.0									97.0	93.0	94.0	95.0		$7,619	$00	$7,619
Rising Leaders Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1527 Lincoln Ave	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 215-0844	311	20	15.5	31.8%	162 (52.1%)	50 (16.1%)	50 (16.1%)	18 (5.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (9.3%)								(n/a)	47.0	80.0	64.0	79.0	100.0	84.0			86.0	87.0	78.0	66.0	79.0		39.0	84.0	100.0				91.0	$9,205	$50	$9,155
University Academy Sabl Inc	Public, Charter	K-8	1980 Discovery Loop	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	No	(850) 481-4410	711	39	18.2	15.3%	559 (78.6%)	48 (6.8%)	46 (6.5%)	21 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.8%)	30 (4.2%)	95.2	41^st of 2258 public elementary schools	98.2%		95.4	41^st of 2256 public elementary schools	98.2%		87.0	79.0	85.0	86.0	93.0	86.0			96.0	93.0	95.0	96.0	98.0		85.0	87.0	92.0	100.0			96.0	$16,034	$636	$15,398
Central High School	Public, Charter	9-12	1250 W 17th St	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	Yes	(850) 215-0770	99	4	24.7	40.4%	47 (47.5%)	18 (18.2%)	22 (22.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (12.1%)	6.5	718^th of 844 public high schools	14.9%		8	684^th of 807 public high schools	15.2%	34							30.0	19.0									5.0	0.0	33.0	35.0		$13,762	$1,552	$12,211
Palm Bay Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	1104 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	No	No	Yes	(850) 215-0770	321	19	16.8	54.5%	106 (33.0%)	89 (27.7%)	88 (27.4%)	8 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	29 (9.0%)	41.6	1303^rd of 2258 public elementary schools	42.3%		51.1	1072^nd of 2256 public elementary schools	52.5%	231	75.0	58.0	47.0						50.0	61.0	48.0				31.0							$10,818	$1,746	$9,072
Bay Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)	Public, Virtual	6-12	1311 Balboa Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	No	Yes	No	(850) 767-4377	14	0		42.9%	13 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.1%)								(n/a)																						$5,417	$36	$5,381
Amikids Maritime Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	200 E Beach Dr	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 919-2213	26	5	5.2	23.1%	16 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (19.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (19.2%)								(n/a)																						$30,671	$00	$30,671
Oscar Patterson Academy	Public	PK, KG-4	1025 Redwood Ave	Panama City	32401	Bay County	Bay	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 767-1610	394	26	15.1	71.1%	93 (23.6%)	181 (45.9%)	85 (21.6%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	27 (6.9%)	6.2	2205^th of 2258 public elementary schools	2.3%					(n/a)	20.0	37.0							18.0	41.0												$13,754	$1,935	$11,819
The Collegiate School At Fsu Pc	Public, Charter	9-12	2430 St Andrews Blvd	Panama City	32405	Bay County	Fsu Bay	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(850) 770-2900	178	11	16.9	12.4%	121 (68.0%)	19 (10.7%)	21 (11.8%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	14 (7.9%)	89.6	19^th of 844 public high schools	97.7%					(n/a)							88.0	93.0									97.0	83.0	98.0	94.0

Cities Near Panama City

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Panama City Beach	0.83 mi	7	146^th
Lynn Haven	8.02 mi	3	182^nd
Tyndall Afb	10.61 mi	1	97^th
Southport	11.57 mi	1	178^th
Inlet Beach	18.15 mi	1	2^nd

See the top FL Florida cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.